A homeowner near downtown Indianapolis is considering buying the vacant 1/8-acre lot beside their house to maintain the added privacy it gives their backyard.
Here's what to know
Because the property is in downtown Indianapolis, the decision involved more than just the $75,000 price. In the Reddit thread, the homeowner said taking over the lot would also mean "regular [maintenance] and quite a bit of cleaning up," while their wife thought it might make more sense to pass and accept that "we were always going to have neighbors."
The replies leaned strongly toward buying. One commenter wrote: "If you can afford it, you never regret having more land. But you can easily regret not having it."
"Virtually no one has bought the lot next door and regretted it, plenty of people have passed and regretted it," another added.
Another Reddit user shared: "We bought a small house on a large lot then a few years later the lot next to us went on the market and we couldn't fathom having our peace and views changed so we bought it and have zero regrets."
More background
In a compact neighborhood, an empty parcel can offer more than unused space: It may preserve tree cover, provide bird habitat, keep views open, and create more separation from any future building near the property line.
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Much of the discussion focused on the backyard buffer the undeveloped lot provides. Reflecting that, one commenter said it is "really nice to have a property not right by neighbors where you can view birds."
Several commenters also emphasized what could happen if the homeowner does not buy it. One warned that there could be "lots of construction" before any new neighbor even arrives, potentially causing issues for the existing house, while another said passing on the purchase means losing any say over whether the land stays green, becomes a rental, or is developed more heavily.
What can be done?
The most common advice was to research the rules first. The commenter with permitting experience urged the homeowner to look into local development standards, especially density and setback rules, meaning how many homes or units could go on the parcel and how close those structures could be to the current house.
Another commenter pointed to a different legal question: whether owning the lot would come with a requirement to build on it within a certain period. In some neighborhoods, they said, buyers are not allowed to simply purchase land and "sit on it" indefinitely without developing it.
Any decision would also have to factor in the obligations that come with ownership, not just the $75,000 cost. The homeowner identified maintenance and cleanup as part of the burden, but commenters argued the parcel could still work as an investment if it remains wooded, is sold later, or is eventually used for a project the owner controls.
Where can I learn more?
Questions about the lot next door can quickly turn into fights over trees, shared space, and who gets a say in what happens nearby.
• A fed-up tenant urged officials to call the city on them after repeated trash dumping.
• One homeowner tried to take over a nearby vacant lot without appeasing the homeowners association.
• A new neighbor tried to alter their property, leaving one homeowner asking where consent begins.
• Across one property line, a homeowner blamed a neighbor for a senseless act of landscaping destruction.
• In California, a homeowner learned they don't have to do anything after a neighbor's demand.
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